Here's why Norway is the electric car capital of the world

Why is the electric car so popular in Norway and what would it take to replicate that popularity in Canada?

NORWAY — Norway is the electric car capital of the world. One out of every 100 cars on the road is an EV and because 98 per cent of Norway’s power comes from renewable sources, Norway’s electric cars are some of the cleanest in the world.

The Tesla Model S is extremely popular and the Nissan Leaf is the third best-selling car in the country. The question is, why is the electric car so popular in Norway and what would it take to replicate that popularity in Canada?

The reason EVs are so popular in Norway isn’t because Norwegians are specifically trying to be green or that they feel an outstanding sense of duty towards global citizenry. While a significant 39 per cent of Norwegians surveyed listed “environment” as one of their reasons for buying an EV, a full 64 per cent said the biggest reason for their EV purchase was “economic motivation” — EVs are incredibly cheap to own and operate in the country.

The abundance of charging stations is one reason why EVs are so popular in Norway.

Handout, Nissan

Norway has a high population of Nissan Leafs.

Clayton Seams, Driving

Your eyes aren't lying to you, that's a Nissan Leaf sliced right down the middle.

Clayton Seams, Driving

This sliced Leaf actually drives, although very slowly.

Clayton Seams, Driving

The Nissan Leaf is extremely popular in Norway.

Handout, Nissan

EVs are allowed to drive in Norway's bus lanes.

Supplied, Nissan

Norway has huge incentives for EV owners.

Supplied, Nissan

Norway makes it very affordable for drivers to own and operate EVs.

Handout, Nissan

Many EV drivers in Norway buy EVs because of financial reasons, and not because of the environment.

Handout, Nissan

The Nissan Leaf is extremely popular in Norway.

Handout, Nissan

When you buy a new car in Norway, you pay a purchase tax of 25 per cent the car’s value. Electric car buyers, however, pay nothing. EV drivers are also exempt from downtown parking fees, road tolls, and ferry fees. In addition, EV drivers can charge their cars for free and get to drive in the bus lane.

The other huge reason for the popularity of electric cars in Norway is the thorough and far-reaching network of charging stations. There are 5,600 stations in Norway and 1,400 of those within the city of Oslo. That’s one charging station per 446 cars. For Canada to have the same ratio, we would need 47,700 charging stations.

At these stations, EV drivers can charge their cars for free. There are also a few quick charging stations that can deliver an 80 per cent charge in about 30 minutes and these will cost the driver $5 to $7 to use. In a country where gasoline costs $2.60 per litre, “filling up” an EV is significantly less painful than spending over $100 to fill up a VW Golf.

Norway makes it very affordable for drivers to own and operate EVs.

Norway’s push for EVs hasn’t been without complaints or controversy. Many have balked at the cost of the incentives and tax breaks. Downtown drivers complain that there is little parking to be had due to the abundance of EV-exclusive parking and charging on every other street. In addition to that, EVs have become so popular that they’re starting to clog the bus lanes.

There are currently 30,000 EVs in Norway and the government has stated that the incentives will be reduced once 50,000 EVs are on Norwegian roads. Of all the incentives, the bus lane perk is most under fire and will likely be the first to be revoked.

We’re unlikely to see EVs become as popular in Canada without a costly and controversial push by the government towards electric cars. There’s also the annoying fact that extreme -30 degree cold can reduce the Leaf’s range by up to 50% in winter.

Still, Norway is a shining example of an EV utopia. Free access to a vast web of charging points is still just a dream for Canadian EV drivers today. Norway’s incentive program has drawn the ire of many for its cost, but there’s something I don’t think many critics realize.

EVs are allowed to drive in Norway’s bus lanes.

The tax breaks and incentives really just work to equalize the price of electric cars with conventional alternatives. In Norway, a Leaf costs roughly the same as a Volkswagen Golf and a Tesla Model S costs about the same as a BMW 5 Series. But as electric car technology advances, the prices get lower and the range of electric cars goes farther, the incentives are likely to become less and less dramatic as electric cars get more and more capable.

In Canada, an electric car like a Leaf is a great fit for urbanites who want to drive something different, but if Canada had a charging network like Norway, electric cars would be a viable option for almost anyone.